SFWMD Emergency Actions Are Moving Water South, Helping to Lower Water Levels in Conservation Areas
Latest video update highlights online tools to keep public apprised of District's actions to mitigate high water emergency
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| Click on the image to watch the latest weekly SFWMD video update. |
West Palm Beach, FL - The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has been working around the clock to lower water levels in the water conservation areas to create capacity for sending additional Lake Okeechobee water south, all in an effort to alleviate South Florida's high water emergency.
SFWMD Hydrology and Hydraulics Bureau Chief Akin Owosina gave an update on the District's operations through the agency's weekly video series, which is dedicated to informing the public on current water conditions and the agency's actions amid the high water emergency. The video update can be seen by
clicking HERE
or visiting the District's website dedicated to the emergency situation at
www.sfwmd.gov/managinghighwater
.
The
Storage Capacity map shows the public how much water has been moved through specific structures in the flood control system in the past week and the current water levels in the conservation areas and Kissimmee Upper Chain of Lakes.
The
Constraints map shows how water moves from north to south in the flood control system and depicts weekly conditions and information on the structures controlling the flow of water. SFWMD uses a detailed set of criteria or "constraints" based on public safety and sound science to determine whether each structure, including Flow Equalization Basins, Stormwater Treatment Areas, pump stations and canals, can store more water or move more water south. That status is translated into a simple "traffic light" for each structure on the map with green lights meaning the structure is "unconstrained" and can move more water and red lights meaning it is constrained and cannot. Several key structures on the map are currently "unconstrained" and moving as much water south as possible.
Background
May's record rainfall caused Lake Okeechobee to rise more than a foot, which led the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to begin releases from the lake on June 1 to the northern estuaries. At the same time, this record rainfall inundated the water conservation areas, causing them to rise considerably above their regulation schedules. To combat this, SFWMD continues to take every action within its authority to lower water levels, including storing water on public and private lands. Additionally, every available structure is being utilized and temporary pumps have been installed to move additional water.
Other actions being taken by SFWMD to mitigate the high water emergency include:
- Utilizing completed components of Gov. Scott's Restoration Strategies Plan, such as the A-1 and L-8 Flow Equalization Basins, to store water.
- Storing water on private and publicly owned lands through the Dispersed Water Management program.
- Routing local basin water to tide through the C-51 Canal to minimize the amount of water that gravity flows into Lake Okeechobee through the L-8 Canal.
- Raising water levels in the L-29 Canal in Miami-Dade County from 7.5 to 8 feet after receiving authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, significantly increasing the amount of water that can be moved out of the conservation areas and to the south.
Online channels to learn more about efforts to lower water levels
